Editorial Policy
Business First — A division of Befirst Media Productions
Our Editorial Commitment
Business First exists to help people understand the businesses, markets, policies, investments, leaders and ideas shaping the UAE economy.
We believe speed should never come at the expense of accuracy, commercial relationships should never be disguised as independent journalism, and strong business reporting should provide readers with context rather than simply repeat announcements.
Business First is committed to producing journalism that is accurate, responsible, relevant, clear and professionally presented, while respecting the laws, culture, values and media standards of the United Arab Emirates.
This Editorial Policy applies to Business First journalists, editors, freelancers, contributors, photographers, videographers, producers and other persons involved in creating or approving editorial content across our website, newsletters, social media channels, video, podcasts, interviews and other publishing platforms.
1. OUR EDITORIAL MISSION
Business First aims to become a credible source of UAE-focused business information for entrepreneurs, executives, investors, professionals, companies and decision-makers.
Our role is not simply to publish more news. Our role is to identify what matters.
We aim to explain important developments across:
Our journalism should leave readers better informed than they were before they opened the story.
2. OUR CORE EDITORIAL VALUES
Every Business First story should reflect six foundational principles:
Accuracy
Facts come before speed.
Credibility
Information should come from identifiable, reliable and appropriate sources.
Clarity
Business information should be understandable without unnecessary jargon.
Relevance
We ask why a development matters to our business audience.
Context
A press release tells readers what happened. Journalism should explain what it means.
Responsibility
We recognise that published information can affect individuals, companies, markets and reputations.
3. UAE MEDIA STANDARDS
Business First operates within the UAE and will comply with applicable UAE media laws, regulations and standards.
Our editorial and commercial content must respect, among other applicable requirements:
- the UAE's sovereignty, institutions and national interests;
- Islamic beliefs and other religions and beliefs;
- UAE national identity, culture and heritage;
- national unity and social cohesion;
- public order and public morals;
- the legal, economic, judicial and security systems of the UAE;
- individual privacy;
- children's rights;
- applicable restrictions concerning hate, discrimination, violence and extremism;
- applicable intellectual-property rights; and
- requirements relating to false, misleading or fabricated information.
Business First will not knowingly publish rumours, fabricated documents, deliberately false information or material falsely attributed to a person, company, government authority or other entity.
Where a subject creates heightened legal, regulatory, diplomatic, national-security or public-interest considerations, publication may require enhanced editorial and/or legal review.
4. ACCURACY BEFORE SPEED
Business First journalists should verify material facts before publication, including names, titles, company names, numbers, financial figures, dates, locations, quotations, funding rounds, valuations, and government decisions.
A journalist should never knowingly publish information simply because competitors have already reported it. Another media outlet publishing something does not automatically make it true.
5. SOURCE STANDARDS
Business First follows a source hierarchy. Where possible, reporters should begin with primary information:
6. TWO-SOURCE PRINCIPLE
For sensitive, disputed or potentially reputation-damaging claims, Business First should seek confirmation from more than one reliable source wherever reasonably possible.
A single source may be sufficient where the information comes directly from an authoritative primary source (such as an official gazette, regulatory disclosure, or court document). The level of verification should increase with the seriousness of the claim.
7. ATTRIBUTION
Readers should be able to understand where important information came from. Business First attributes material information using phrases like “According to…”, “The company said…”, or “In a statement…”.
Attribution should never be written in a way that makes a third party's unverified claim appear to be an independently established fact.
8. PRESS RELEASES
Press releases are useful sources of information, but they are not automatically journalism. When using a press release, our journalists ask: What is genuinely new? What can be independently verified? What context is missing?
Marketing language such as “revolutionary”, “world-leading”, “best”, or “unprecedented” should not be presented as objective fact unless independently substantiated.
9. HEADLINES
Business First headlines must be accurate, specific, concise, informative, compelling without being misleading, and consistent with the article. We do not use clickbait that materially exaggerates what a story establishes.
A reader who only sees the headline should not leave with a materially false impression of the story.
10. BUSINESS FIRST 1-MINUTE READ STANDARD
Our signature editorial format is designed for busy business readers:
WHAT HAPPENED → KEY DETAILS → CONTEXT → WHY IT MATTERS → WHAT'S NEXT
Typical length: 180–220 words. Short does not mean incomplete.
Every 1-Minute Read should clearly answer: What happened? Who is involved? What are the important numbers? Why does it matter? What should readers watch next?
11. NUMBERS, DATA AND STATISTICS
Business First covers industries where numbers matter. Journalists must verify currencies, distinguish millions from billions, distinguish revenue from profit, distinguish funding from valuation, and identify the relevant reporting period.
Statistics should never be stripped of context simply to create a dramatic headline.
12. FINANCIAL AND MARKET REPORTING
Stories concerning listed companies, securities, funds or markets require heightened care. Business First distinguishes between verified facts, company statements, analyst opinions, forecasts, and editorial analysis.
Business First's general journalism does not constitute personalized investment advice.
13. MARKET-SENSITIVE INFORMATION
Before publishing information concerning mergers, acquisitions, funding rounds, insolvency, executive departures, or IPOs, the editorial team must seek appropriate verification.
Rumour should never be converted into fact through the wording of a headline.
14. GOVERNMENT AND REGULATORY NEWS
Government reporting must rely directly on the relevant ministry, regulator, official gazette, or media office. Before publishing a regulatory change, journalists must confirm who issued it, when it takes effect, who it applies to, and whether an older rule has been superseded.
Announcements and legislation should not be treated as interchangeable.
15. CORRECTIONS
Responsible journalism includes correcting mistakes promptly. Where a material factual error is confirmed, we correct it openly. Depending on significance, we may amend the article, add a correction note, add an editor's note, or update the headline.
Minor spelling, grammar, or formatting fixes that do not alter meaning do not require a correction notice.
16. UPDATES
When an update materially changes a developing story, Business First clearly labels the article as updated and explains what changed. We do not silently rewrite the substance of stories.
17. RIGHT OF REPLY
When publishing a serious allegation or potentially damaging claim concerning an individual or company, reasonable efforts are made to seek their response before publication.
If no response is received by a reasonable deadline, the article will note that comment was requested. A refusal to comment will never be portrayed as evidence of wrongdoing.
18. ALLEGATIONS, INVESTIGATIONS AND COURT MATTERS
We maintain strict legal distinction between allegation, investigation, charge, prosecution, judgment, conviction, and appeal. A person accused of wrongdoing is not described as guilty unless legally established.
Court reporting receives enhanced editorial review to adhere to UAE judicial reporting restrictions.
19. PRIVACY
Business First respects individual privacy. Being technically available online does not automatically mean personal information should be republished. Editors evaluate public relevance, legality, and potential harm before publication.
20. CHILDREN
Content involving children requires heightened care. We protect children's dignity, privacy, and welfare in strict compliance with UAE child-protection legislation.
21. DISCRIMINATION, HATRED AND EXTREMISM
Business First does not publish content intended to incite discrimination, hatred, sectarian conflict, violence or extremism. References to personal characteristics are included only where relevant and lawful.
22. CRIME, VIOLENCE AND DISTURBING MATERIAL
As a business publication, we do not sensationalize crime or violence to generate clicks. We avoid material that unnecessarily glorifies criminal activity.
23. TRAGEDY AND HUMAN SUFFERING
Victims and families affected by tragedy are treated with dignity. A person's distress will never be treated merely as content.
24. RELIGION, CULTURE AND UAE VALUES
Business First respects Islam, other religions, UAE culture, national identity and social values. Content must not undermine social cohesion or insult religious beliefs.
25. NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS
Coverage involving UAE institutions, national interests, diplomatic relations or sensitive international affairs requires heightened editorial review.
26. IMAGES AND VIDEO
Visual journalism must provide context rather than create deception. We do not materially alter news photographs or present generated imagery as documentary evidence.
Illustrations, composites and AI-generated visuals must be clearly labelled where their nature could otherwise mislead readers.
27. ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE
Business First may use AI tools for transcription, research organization, summarization, proofreading, and production assistance. However, AI output is not automatically a reliable source.
Human editorial accountability remains central to Business First journalism.
AI will never be used to fabricate quotations, interviews, sources, statistics, documents, or photographs presented as real events.
28. COPYRIGHT AND ATTRIBUTION
Business First respects intellectual property. Journalists must not copy articles from competitors. Images must originate from authorized photo agencies, media kits, or licensed libraries.
“Found on Google” is never an acceptable copyright status.
29. PLAGIARISM
Plagiarism is strictly unacceptable. Material plagiarism results in immediate removal of content and disciplinary action or termination of the contributor relationship.
30. SOCIAL MEDIA VERIFICATION
Before relying on social content, reporters verify account authenticity, origin, timestamp, and cross-reference with official entities.
31. USER-GENERATED CONTENT
User-generated photos, videos and claims are verified before use, and copyright permissions confirmed.
32. INTERVIEWS
Interviewees are represented fairly. Quotes are edited only for length or grammar without distorting meaning. Sponsored interviews are clearly disclosed.
33. ANONYMOUS SOURCES
Anonymity is granted cautiously—only where legitimate safety, confidentiality, or retaliation concerns exist. The editor must know the identity of the source.
34. CONFIDENTIAL SOURCES
Confidentiality commitments are taken seriously and handled subject to applicable law. Journalists do not casually promise confidentiality without editorial consultation.
35. EMBARGOES
Agreed embargoes are respected unless the information becomes legitimately public or the source releases it.
36. CONFLICTS OF INTEREST
Editorial employees disclose financial interests, personal investments, consultancy, or close relationships in companies covered to preserve editorial independence.
37. GIFTS AND HOSPITALITY
Journalists do not accept money or benefits in exchange for favourable editorial coverage. Expensive gifts or incentives that could compromise integrity are declined.
38. TRAVEL AND PRESS TRIPS
Where third parties fund press trips, appropriate disclosure is made. Sponsored travel never guarantees positive coverage.
39. EDITORIAL AND COMMERCIAL SEPARATION
Purchasing advertising does not guarantee independent news coverage. Refusing to advertise does not exclude a company from legitimate news coverage.
40. SPONSORED CONTENT
Commercial content is clearly labelled using markers such as Sponsored, Partner Content, Brand Feature, or Advertisement.
Payment never permits false claims, defamatory content, or disguised advertising.
41. EXPERT OPINIONS AND THOUGHT LEADERSHIP
We welcome credible perspectives from verified experts. Opinion content is distinguished from straight news and vetted against disguised marketing.
42. CONTRIBUTORS
Guest contributors must disclose commercial affiliations. Business First reserves the right to edit, request evidence, or reject non-compliant submissions.
43. REAL ESTATE REPORTING
We distinguish asking price from transaction price, gross development value, and rental yield. Projected returns are never presented as guaranteed outcomes.
44. STARTUP AND FUNDING NEWS
Funding stories specify amounts, stage, investors, and whether funding is equity or debt. Company valuations are attributed unless verified independently.
45. COMPANY RANKINGS AND AWARDS
We distinguish editorial rankings from paid awards or sponsored lists. Fee-based programmes are transparently disclosed.
46. POLLS AND SURVEYS
Surveys report sample size, methodology, and dates. Unrepresentative polls are not described as representing the entire UAE population.
47. BREAKING NEWS PROTOCOL
We would rather publish three confirmed facts than ten uncertain ones.
48. RUMOURS AND UNVERIFIED CLAIMS
Business First does not publish rumours simply because they are trending. Unverified social media speculation is never rewritten as confirmed news.
49. EDITORIAL APPROVAL LEVELS
50. PRE-PUBLICATION CHECKLIST
51. POST-PUBLICATION MONITORING
Publishing is not the end of the reporting cycle. Editors monitor significant stories for official responses, changed data, and reader feedback.
52. COMPLAINTS
Editorial complaints should include article URL, date, and supporting evidence sent to:
editorial@businessfirstuae.com
53. TAKEDOWN REQUESTS
We do not remove accurate journalism simply because it is inconvenient to the subject. Takedowns are evaluated on legal, privacy, and public relevance grounds.
54. EDITORIAL ARCHIVE
Published journalism forms part of the permanent historical record. Archived stories may be appended with editor notes as facts evolve.
55. STAFF SOCIAL MEDIA CONDUCT
Staff avoid public social media activities that compromise newsroom confidentiality, spread unverified rumours, or create undisclosed conflicts of interest.
56. EDITORIAL INDEPENDENCE
Advertisers may purchase visibility. They cannot purchase undisclosed editorial conclusions.
57. OUR STANDARD FOR EVERY STORY
58. POLICY REVIEW
This Editorial Policy is reviewed periodically and whenever UAE media legislation, technology, or publishing practices evolve.
59. CONTACT THE NEWSROOM
A division of Befirst Media Productions
Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Website: businessfirstuae.com
General Enquiries: info@businessfirstuae.com
News Tips & Editorial: editorial@businessfirstuae.com
Press Releases: pr@businessfirstuae.com
Advertising & Commercial: ads@businessfirstuae.com
Legal & Privacy: legal@businessfirstuae.com
OUR EDITORIAL PROMISE
Business First believes credibility is earned one story at a time. We will pursue speed without sacrificing accuracy, commercial growth without disguising advertising as independent journalism, and simplicity without removing the context readers need to make sense of business.
FAST. FACTUAL. FOCUSED. FORWARD-LOOKING.
Business First — News That Means Business.